Thanks to your support, our Nature Reserves Fund has now raised an incredible £20,153!
Last year it cost £767,768 to care for and manage our reserves across Leicestershire and Rutland, and finding funds is getting harder every year. The money raised will help fund the crucial work we undertake throughout the year to ensure our nature reserves are in the best possible condition for wildlife to thrive.
We are in a unique position to create and deliver land management projects that protect the rich and varied landscapes across our two counties and ensure they remain a sanctuary for wildlife.
For example, Cossington Meadows provides a vital habitat for thousands of breeding, wintering and migrating birds. The deeper pools attract wildfowl such as gadwall and great crested grebe and the muddy edges of shallow water attract wading birds such as green sandpiper and oystercatcher. The Trust have created rafts for common terns to nest on and established reed beds, which attract reed bunting and reed warblers. Barn owl boxes have allowed for successful barn owl breeding and short eared owls are also common in the winter. Grass snakes, toads and frogs all breed on the reserve and regularly seen butterflies include small copper, common blue and brimstone.
Conservation officer Chris Hill explains;
“Without the right management, the quality of the wetlands can decline. Controlling encroaching willow is an ongoing battle and by using selective grazing we can provide the right habitats for a diverse range of species”.
Wildlife and wild places are under threat from factors such as climate change, habitat loss and pollution. In the last 100 years we have lost a shocking 97% of our meadows, and the beautiful wildflowers, insects, mammals and birds that they supported have disappeared. Protecting the precious wild places we have left has never been more important, with your support we can continue our vital work.
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